UConn guard Tristen Newton is fouled by UAPB forward Lonnell Martin Jr. in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday in Storrs, Conn. (Photo courtesy of Associated Press)
STORRS, Conn. (AP) – Alex Karaban scored a career-high 26 points to lead No. 5 UConn to a 101-63 rout of Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday.
Tristen Newton scored 16 points, Cam Spencer had 15 and Donovan Clingan added 11 points and blocked three shots for the Huskies (9-1), who shot 56% from the floor and made 13 3-pointers.
The game came in the midst of challenging stretch for UConn, which was coming off a loss at No. 2 Kansas and a win over No. 9 North Carolina at Madison Square Garden. The Huskies head back on the road this week for a game against No. 7 Gonzaga in Seattle.
Rashad Williams had 23 points to lead Pine Bluff (4-7).
UConn led 45-33 at intermission and extended that in the second half, taking its first 20-point lead at 62-42 on a follow layup off an offensive rebound by Karaban. The Huskies’ first 30-point lead came on a three-point play by Stephon Castle.
Despite being heavy underdogs, Pine Bluff stayed with the Huskies through much of the first 20 minutes.
UConn led 33-31 with just over 2 1/2 minutes left in the first half before closing on a 12-2 run, which was highlighted by a block from Clingan that led to a fast-break layup from Solomon Ball on the other end.
The Huskies outscored the Golden Lions 56-30 in the second half.
BIG PICTURE
UAPB: The Golden Lions came into the game averaging just under 30 3-point attempts and just over 11 3-point shots made per game. They finished 12 of 30 on Saturday,
UConn: UConn has not lost a nonconference home game since falling to St. Joseph’s in November 2019.
UP NEXT
UAPB: The Golden Lions travel to Tampa to take on South Florida on Tuesday night.
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